MRIDANGAM ARANGETRAM OF VIGNESH SADASIVAN, STUDENT OF SARVALAGHU PERCUSSION ART CENTER, SEP 29 2018

[SowmyaN]

The Mridangam Arangetram of Chi. Vignesh Sadasivan (a.k.a Advait), student of ‘Laya Kala Ratna’ Sri Ramesh Srinivasan of Sarvalaghu Percussion Art Center (SPAC) was held on September 29th 2018 at Smith Center, Ohlone College in the city of Fremont, California.

Concert was performed by:
Violin: Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. Sri. M. Chandrasekaran
Mridangam: Chi. Vignesh Sadasivan
Ghatam: Dr. Ravi Balasubramanian

The concert was presided over by world renowned sitar virtuoso Pandit Habib Khan, as the Chief Guest, Senior Bay Area Artist and teacher Vidushi Smt. SreeLakshmi Kolavennu, as the Guest of Honor, and Smt. Geetha Iyer (vocal teacher of Vignesh) as the special guest. Violin Maestro Sangeetha Kalanidhi and prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna Sadasyata) awardee Dr. M. Chandrasekaran was accompanied on stage by his daughter, prominent violinist Vidushi Bharati Gopalakrishnan as well as his son, mridangist and flautist Sri Murali. Prominent Bay area musicians and teachers including Smt. Kalpagam Kowshik, Smt. Geetha Ravi, Smt. Divya Ramesh, Smt. Parvathy Ganesh and many others attended the function and blessed Vignesh.

Vignesh, age 13, has been learning Mridangam for the past 6 years from his Guru, Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, the leading disciple of Mridangam Maestro Sangita Kalanidhi Sri Vellore G. Ramabhadran.

The following is the sequence of songs performed during the concert:

Jalajakshi, Hamsadhwani Varnam, Adi, Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbaiyer
Siddhi Vinayakam, Shanmukhapriya, Rupakam, Muthuswami Dikshitar
Enta Vedukondu O Raghava, SaraswatiManohari, Adi, Thyagaraja
Ezhumalai vasa, Saveri, Misra Chappu, Dr. M. Chandrasekaran
Raghuvamsa Sudha, Kadanakutuhalam, Deshadi, Patnam Subramania Iyer
Saraguna palimpa, Kedaragowla, Adi, 2 kalai, Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (Main song)
Anupama gunambudhi, Atana, Khanda Chappu, Patnam Subramania Iyer
RTP Latangi, Tisra Triputa 2 kalai, 1/2 aksaram atita eduppu

Here is a detailed review of the concert:

The concert started with Adi tala varnam with medium tempo setting stage for high speed 2nd kalam. Chandrasekaran sir effortlessly moved the bow producing hamsadhwani notes at high speed. The young boy followed these notes and speed transitions playing apt patterns to enhance this music. The varnam was followed by a short yet soulful alapani on Shanmukhapriya followed by the famous Kriti of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, Siddhi Vinayakam. Chandru Mama was all praise for Vignesh's sarvalaghu way of accompaniment for the Nerval and Kalpana Swaram and embellishing ardhi-s. The next song played was the famous Tyagaraja Kriti Enta Venduko in deshadi talam in a medium tempo which was well accompanied by Vignesh. Sri Chandrasekaran Sir played Saveri Ragam, and then sang and played a vilamba kala kriti, his own composition on Lord Venkateswara. Vignesh clearly demonstrated his ability to aptly accompany for a slow tempo song. Sri Ravi and Vignesh provided a pleasing accompaniment for Nerval and Kalpanaswaram at 'Thangamaya jothiye'.
The mood was completely changed to a charming and energizing Kadanakuthuhalam alapana followed by Raghu Vamsa Sudha played in four speeds. Vignesh nicely brought out the Sarvalaghu style of playing and volume control which are hallmarks of his guru parampara.
The main song chosen for the concert was Saraguna Palimpa in 2 Kalai Adi thalam composed by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar. Sri Chandrasekaran Sir’s alapana of Kedara Gowla was brilliant with majestic sancharas and great bhava. It was clearly evident that Vignesh was enjoying every bit of this slow kriti and watching the main artist at every step, responding to the speed transitions and volume variations appropriately. He also demonstrated his knowledge of the song by closely following Sri Chandrasekaran Sir on the chittaswaram.
Vignesh and Sri Ravi cheerfully took charge of the latter section of the main song by performing Thaniyavarthanam. They blended each others playing by subtle communication and graceful overlaps. Thaniyavarthanam was done on the line ‘Varaguna seshadri’ at ½ aksaram eduppu. Vignesh started with Chaturasra nadai and then moved on to saying Konakkol for a pancakalam Korvai consisting of chaturasram kezhkalam, tisram, chaturasram, tisram melkalam, and chaturasram melkalam. The Konnakol was rendered with amazing clarity as noted by the Guest of honor Smt. SreeLakshmi Garu later in her speech. By saying and playing Panchakalam with ease Vignesh made it clear that his layam strength is on par with a seasoned percussionist. He then moved on to playing a Korvai blending caturasram and tisram with delicate placement of the patterns that requires great precision. This was followed by playing in tisra nadai by both percussionists. Vignesh gracefully transitioned from tisra nadai to khanda nadai and later on letting Ravi Sir to display his brilliance in khanda nadai. A very engaging misra-koraippu ensued afterwards with bold exchanges in chaturasra and tisra nadai-s. The culminating Korvai was developed in such a way that the last round ended in poruttam with the sahityam.

After a fast Anupama Gunambudhi in khanda chappu, the artist started the next important piece of the concert - RTP in the ragam Lathangi set to Tisra Jathi Triputa talam in 2 kalai at ½ aksaram atita eduppu. Vignesh got an opportunity do thrikaalam by konnakol and subsequently played the pallavi on mridangam in the different speeds - trikalam. This was followed by a small thani incorporating misra nadai followed by mohra and korvai.

Chief Guest Sitar virtuoso Pandit Habib Khan praised the guru, Sri Ramesh Srinivasan for training his shishya, Vignesh who played so well. Khan ji quoted that given an opportunity he would have Vignesh accompany for him on sitar the very same day.
Guest of honor Smt. SreeLakshmi Kolavennu praised Vignesh for his focus, how he was enjoying at the same time he was playing, and how he adapted his playing for fast paced and vilamba kala kriti-s. She had words of praise/respect and awe for Sri Chandrasekaran sir for rendering such soulful vintage music laid with bhava.
Smt. Geetha Iyer praised Vignesh for his keen sense of listening and focus.
Dr. Ravi Balasubramanian stressed the importance of watching the face of the main artist and predicting their next moves while accompanying which Vignesh was doing very well. He also praised Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan for training his students so well so that they can play for any songs with ease.
Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, highlighted the positive outlook of Advait (Vignesh) throughout the arangetram preparation which was scheduled in a short notice. He also stressed the importance of the spiritual atmosphere which the family brings in, which is the ultimate aim of our carnatic music. He praised Vignesh for playing confidently yet with great humility.

[rajeshnat]

O gosh , looks like with Ramesh Srinivasan as guru , there is quite a lot of sishyas coming on stage . Looks like we can line up atleast 4 to 5 disciples who have been reviewed here in this forum who have done the arangetram. Best wishes to Vignesh. The challenge is to still love and perform mrudangam post their arangetram.

SowmyaN
anupama gunAmbuthi in atana is by Patnam Thyagaraja Iyer , not by patnam subramania Iyer. So what happened after Lathangi the songlist does not mention any more tukkadas. I am assuming there were few more songs post the speech post RTP.Tx for all your posts.